Nate Not All Too Pleased With Lack Of Defensive Commitment

[ABM]

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2009/10/preseason_performances_put_def.html

TUALATIN -- The lingering debate about the starting lineup and the nostalgia surrounding Wednesday night's exhibition game at Memorial Coliseum have provided a convenient distraction for the Trail Blazers at a time when a more pertinent issue has surfaced.

Coach Nate McMillan has emphasized defense throughout the preseason -- and, really, for the better part of the last 13 months -- but three games into the exhibition schedule, he's still searching for the intensity, execution and desire required to catapult this team into becoming a defensive force.

"That is where I think I'm most disappointed -- in the commitment there and ... focus," McMillan said, referring to his team's defensive play thus far. "Not only have we talked about it, we know that that is where we need to improve and part of (practice) was working on that. The guys gotta commit to that. It can't be a sometimes thing."............

 

[PapaG]

Well gee, the primary concern by most posters here prior to Miller being signed was getting a PG who could defend quick guards.

Instead, the Blazers now have Andre Miller and Steve Blake defending the Deron Williams, Chris Pauls, and Tony Parkers of the West.

Perimeter defense still should be a concern, and Miller, by what I've read, seems to be caring more about offense than defense, as are those bashing Steve Blake.

 

[maxiep]

Our offense was so damn efficient. If we could really focus on defense, it would result in an extra 4-9 wins this season.

 

[PapaG]

Our offense was so damn efficient. If we could really focus on defense, it would result in an extra 4-9 wins this season.

The question is, would that take away from the offensive efficiency?

I personally think a more athletic and healthy Oden will add 3 wins defensively anyhow, so it may not matter.

 

[jlprk]

Our offense was so damn efficient. If we could really focus on defense, it would result in an extra 4-9 wins this season.

The offense is efficient because control freak Nate slows it down to the slowest pace in the league and allows no errors. But it's a lot harder to slow down the game when you don't have the ball. So the same efficiency techniques don't transfer over.

 

[maxiep]

Are people on this board saying that playing a slow down, highly efficient offense and playing strong and agressive team defense are mutually exclusive? Someone should tell Gregg Popovich his scheme doesn't work.

 

[STOMP]

I know this subject (D) is pretty dull, but the value of having their stars focused on team play/goals over individual scoring and touches can't be overstated. I love that Nate is calling on Roy to expend more energy on that end. He certainly has flashed the ability to be better then he's been but obviously it's pretty taxing carrying the offensive load. If the guys around him (especially Greg Rudy and Nic) are more capable of offensive production, then of course Roy should be expected to expend more energy on D. The refs may not ever let him grab and whack guys across the arm like they do Kobe, but he's enough of a star that they don't want to foul him out either. Nate is quite obviously calling him out in the press on this matter as if the message from these personal talks isn't getting through.

another solid article from Freeman. I like how he lets the actual individuals involved tell the story with their quotes... good game references tie things together.

STOMP

 

[Nikolokolus]

Are people on this board saying that playing a slow down, highly efficient offense and playing strong and agressive team defense are mutually exclusive? Someone should tell Gregg Popovich his scheme doesn't work.

LOL!

 

[Nikolokolus]

Well who's all that surprised? KP drafted a lot of offensive minded players and the the ones that are defensive minded are awfully young ... sure you can teach it, but I don't know that you can expect stellar results when you have a bunch of guys who don't exactly take pride in it. Say what you like about Daryl Morey, but that guy built a team with almost nothing but defensive specialists sprinkled with a few offensive performers.

Hopefully a consolidation trade or two happens in the next year or two and helps shore up some of these deficiencies ... barring that hopefully these guys grow up in a hurry.

 

[PapaG]

Are people on this board saying that playing a slow down, highly efficient offense and playing strong and agressive team defense are mutually exclusive? Someone should tell Gregg Popovich his scheme doesn't work.

I see nobody on this board taking this position. Who are you referring to in your post?

 

[jlprk]

Papa, I've noticed that many of your posts prefix with the question, who are you talking about, so that you can determine whether to feel offended.

Maxiep, if you meant me (hey Maxiep! ya remember the Oxy guy on the off-topic BBB board? who beat you all the time in arguments?), all I was saying is that skill in offensive efficiency doesn't translate to defensive efficiency if the skill derives from slowdown, since it's much harder to slow a game down from the defensive end.

 

[PapaG]

Papa, I've noticed that many of your posts prefix with the question, who are you talking about, so that you can determine whether to feel offended.

Maxiep, if you meant me (hey Maxiep! ya remember the Oxy guy on the off-topic BBB board? who beat you all the time in arguments?), all I was saying is that skill in offensive efficiency doesn't translate to defensive efficiency if the skill derives from slowdown, since it's much harder to slow a game down from the defensive end.

No, I'm actually wondering which nameless posters are being called out. It seems like a passive-aggresive approach to debate, and an easy way to frame a debate if a person gets a bite on their post.

I prefer to pull out direct quotes from posters and debate them on their merit if I disagree with them. I suppose this comes off as aggresive, but I'll offer that it is upfront and honest.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Our offense was so damn efficient. If we could really focus on defense, it would result in an extra 4-9 wins this season.

I think it will ballance out. Our defense was not very good, but our offense was efficient because of offensive rebounding. Something we wouldn't be as good at if we spent more energy on defense.